Day

The Long Island Ducks began their spring training this morning to kick off their 15th anniversary season at Bethpage Ballpark in Central Islip.

After a recent April Fool’s joke, in which the team reported to have signed Alex Rodriguez after his PED controversy, the Ducks are now getting ready for a fresh season.

LI News Radio Spoke with Former MLB player, and current Centerfield/Hitting Coach Lew Ford about the upcoming season —

“It feels great to get out and have a practice. Everybody’s excited for the first day. Right now were just thinking about what we have to do right now, just warming up but, you know, everyone’s goal is to win the championship again.”

The Ducks will start off the season on a road trip, the first game being April 25th. The first home game will be on May 2nd.

If you can’t make it to the game, you’re in luck. Tune into 103.9 LI News Radio, we will be broadcasting the Friday, Saturday and Sunday games.

Supporters say e-cigs help people quit the habit, giving them the nicotine they crave without the unhealthy smoke of traditional cigarettes. But a new congressional report written largely by staffers for Democratic Senators and House members says concerns about electronic cigarettes underscore the need for regulation.

Industry critics say an array of flavors and marketing may appeal to young people. There is also a lack of age restrictions and consistent warning labels for the battery-powered devices, which work by heating liquid nicotine in a disposable cartridge and creating a vapor that smokers can then inhale.

Zac Efron received the golden popcorn trophy for best shirtless performance, in That Awkward Moment. While accepting the award, presenter Rita Ora helped him remove his shirt, revealing his six-pack.

Mila Kunis, who’s reportedly expecting a child with Ashton Kutcher, had what appeared to be a small baby bump, but she didn’t mention anything about her relationship or her pregnancy when she picked up the best villain award for Oz The Great and Powerful.

MTV saluted Channing Tatum with its Trailblazer Award, for “boldly paving the way with his unique and diverse path in the film industry.” And Mark Wahlberg was given the MTV Generation Award for engaging the network’s audience throughout his career.

Amanda Seyfried stumbled with her words while presenting the best comedic performance award — won by Jonah Hill — with Seth MacFarlane. She said she couldn’t read the teleprompter well because she wasn’t wearing her contacts.

MacFarlane quipped, “So far this is going about as well as the Oscars,” referring to his controversial turn as host of the Academy Awards in 2013.

The broadcast briefly struck a somber note when Jordana Brewster introduced a tribute to her late Fast and the Furious co-star, Paul Walker. Walker and Vin Diesel were named best on-screen duo, for Fast & Furious 6.

Conan O’Brien hosted the 22nd annual MTV Movie Awards from the Nokia Theatre. The two-hour broadcast began with a taped segment in which he vowed to get 50 celebrity cameos in the show’s open. He was able to pull it off, with the help of Andy Samberg, Seth Rogen, Jessica Alba, Ashton Kutcher, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Jack White, Jason Bateman, Martin Scorsese and many more.

The ceremony featured musical performances from Eminem and Rihanna, who delivered a live rendition of their hit, “The Monster”; Zedd and Ellie Goulding, who performed their Divergent songs “Find You” and “Beating Heart”; and the rock duo Twenty One Pilots.

The show also offered a sneak peek at upcoming movies, including X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and The Fault in Our Stars.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is reaching out to the victims of yesterday’s tragic shootings at two Jewish facilities in Kansas.

In a written statement released yesterday, Cuomo said, “On the eve of Passover, New Yorkers stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in Kansas City, mourning those who were lost and wishing a speedy recovery to those who were injured.”

Meanwhile, local officials on Long Island are taking extra precautions. Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Acting Police Commissioner Thomas C. Krumpter have increased patrols at religious places of worship for the Passover and Easter holidays, although there is no known threat to any religious institution in Nassau County at this time.

Three people were killed in separate shootings at a Jewish Community Center and a nearby assisted living facility in Overland Park, Kansas.

Several Long Island residents are enjoying their winnings after playing the New York lottery.

“News 12″ reports John and Sharon Ventrice of Seaford claimed the highest prize of 13-million dollars. The couple’s son purchased the tickets at the Citgo on Hicksville Road in Plainview last month. Three other winners scored one-million dollars apiece with tickets purchased in West Babylon, Valley Stream and Mount Sinai.

Suffolk County Police arrested a Coram man Saturday night for pretending to be a police officer and utilizing equipment that is intended for identifying police officers and their vehicles.

Sixth Precinct Police Officer John Bokinz was on routine patrol at 8:27 p.m. when he observed a man performing an apparent traffic stop on an unidentified vehicle on Coram-Mt. Sinai Road near West Denis Lane in Coram.

Thomas O’Connor, 42, was driving a gray 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee with New York license plate number CMF7669. The vehicle had red and white flashing lights on the dashboard. O’Connor was wearing a black shirt with the words “Police K9 Unit” in white letters, a gold Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shield on a chain around his neck and a black police duty belt that was equipped with a black pellet gun, flashlight, handcuffs and a police scanner.

O’Connor, 42, of 4 Teele Drive, Coram was arrested and charged with Criminal Impersonation 2nd Degree: Public Servant, Unauthorized use of Colored Lights on a Vehicle and Unauthorized Use of a Police Receiver. He is being held at the Sixth Precinct and is scheduled to be arraigned today at First District Court in Central Islip.

The investigation is continuing and police are asking anyone who has had a similar encounter to contact theSixth Precinct Crime Control Unit at 631-854-8627 or 854-8600.

Suffolk County Police and Smithtown Public Safety Bay Constables yesterday rescued two men that fell into Smithtown Bay after their canoe overturned.

Two Good Samaritans who were on the upper ramp of the Kings Park Bluff, located at Old Dock Road, observed a canoe overturning and two men falling into the water at approximately 3:30 p.m. One of the Samaritans ran down to the lower parking area and alerted Smithtown Public Safety Park Rangers Sergeant Joseph Cornetta.

Smithtown Public Safety Senior Bay Constable, Sergeant Nicholas Balducci and Officer David Rosenberg, located one victim who was in the water north of the pavilion at Sunken Meadows State Park located at Sunken Meadows Parkway, Kings Park. The victim, a 22-year-old male from Nesconset, had been in the water, which was approximately 48 degrees, for approximately 20 minutes.

Aviation Section Officers responded and located a backpack in the water approximately one mile northwest from where there first victim was found. Marine Bureau officers in Marine Bureau Delta then found the second victim, a 25-year-old male from Hauppauge, near the backpack and the canoe. He had been in the water approximately 45 minutes.

Both men were transported by King Park Fire Department Rescue to St. Catherine of Sienna Medical Center in Smithtown where they were listed in critical but stable condition and were treated for hypothermia, cuts, and abrasions.